BET UK’s Mission Motherland premieres this January
January 12, 2026
Mission Motherland will launch on 5’s streaming service and the BET International YouTube channel in the UK from January 20th – 23rd..
Mission Motherland is a powerful docuseries in which four prominent British personalities from the world of music and entertainment step out of the spotlight and into their past as they trace their family ancestry and explore themes of Black British identity.
In each episode, the celebrity embarks on a journey of discovery to their ancestral homes to walk the streets where their parents grew up, stand in the places that shaped them, and uncover the passions, struggles, and dreams that defined their family’s story. But this is more than rediscovery. Each participant takes on a personal mission to honour their roots by giving back to the communities they are connected to, creating real and lasting impact. As they confront the past, they reflect on how well they truly know their families—and how their identity continues to influence who they are and who they may yet become.
Broadcaster Clara Amfo goes to Ghana with her brother Chris to explore identity and belonging, while rapper and musician AJ Tracey heads to Trinidad to step into his grandmother’s legacy, alongside his friend and creative partner, Mickey.
Actor Jimmy Akingbola – fostered to a white family in the UK – will reconnect with his lost heritage in Nigeria with his brother Sola and presenter and singer Alesha Dixon will go to Jamaica with her two brothers Adrian and Jeroame to uncover her family’s hidden past and their ancestral land.
Cicelia Deane, Editorial and Commissioning Executive at BET UK, said:“Mission Motherland is a series I’m incredibly proud of. It celebrates the richness of Black British identity and the privilege of belonging to more than one place. Featuring a stellar lineup of talent, the series shares their personal stories, strengthening connections to heritage and helping keep cultural knowledge alive across generations in a way that feels joyful and relevant.”
Dreaming Whilst Black producer Big Deal Films is making the show, with Dhanny Joshi and Thomas Stogdon the executive producers from the indie. Shurwin Beckford is Showrunner, Deep Sehgal is Executive producer for WPP Media Motion Entertainment, and Cicelia Deane is Executive Producer for BET UK. Portia Clarke is Head of Marketing for BET UK and Kerrianne Taylor is Social Media & Digital Lead for BET UK.